Overview

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression.

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Are you:

  • Passionate about sustainability and have a degree in Science or Environmental Science and/or relevant professional experience?

  • Knowledgeable about low carbon fuels and their role in decarbonising transport?

  • Able to communicate complex technical information confidently to a diverse range of stakeholders?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Job Description

Climate change is one of the biggest and most pressing challenges facing Governments across the world. In this role, you will be at the heart of the Department’s strategy to accelerate the shift to greener transport, and drive more sustainable travel behaviours, to ensure that transport plays its part in meeting this challenge.

The Environment Strategy directorate leads on policy to move the nation’s transport onto a more sustainable footing while maximising the economic opportunities for the UK.

We are looking for two highly motivated sustainability specialists, with knowledge of sustainability, climate change, and renewable fuels, to join the Low Carbon Fuels (LCF) Delivery Unit as Principal Sustainability Specialists.

You will play a critical role in ensuring the successful delivery of the ongoing implementation and delivery of both the RTFO and the SAF Mandate—two of the Government’s most important routes for reducing emissions from transport.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Initiate and manage technical projects: Investigate emerging sustainability issues, evaluate the risks they pose to the scheme, identify and implement solutions. Work collaboratively with Low Carbon Fuels policy teams to implement scheme improvements.

  • Ensure the sustainability of RTFO and SAF Mandate schemes: Assess new low carbon fuel feedstocks and production pathways, engage with industry, and work with technical managers to issue eligibility advice.

  • Review applications: Evaluate sustainability claims for fuels supplied, support colleagues and suppliers on technical issues and investigations.

  • Collaborate with external stakeholders: Engage with fuel suppliers, start-ups, international regulators, technical partners, and other organisations to address challenges and maintain the UK’s leadership in low carbon fuels regulation.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person Specification

About you:

To be successful in this role, you must demonstrate:

  • Degree in Science or Environmental Science, and/or relevant professional experience.

  • Knowledge of environmental or energy-related issues and solutions (e.g., climate change, sustainability, sustainable aviation fuels, biofuels, low carbon fuels, life cycle analysis).

  • Experience of initiating and managing technical projects.

  • Experience of communicating complex information to a wide variety of stakeholders.

  • Experience of making decisions or recommendations based on the best available evidence, even when the evidence is complex, incomplete, or contradictory.

Additional Information

  • A minimum of 60% of working time should be spent at your principal workplace (including business travel or detached duty).

  • You must attend the Hastings office a minimum of 1 day per month.

  • Occasional travel to other DfT offices and potentially the EU is required.

  • Part-time applications are welcome, but a minimum of 30 hours/week is required.

Behaviours Assessed

  • Making Effective Decisions

  • Communicating and Influencing

  • Working Together

  • Managing a Quality Service

Technical Skills

Benefits

  • Alongside your salary of £42,848, Department for Transport contributes £12,413 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

    Please note, the above example is based on the National minimum salary. The employer pension contribution will be 28.97% of your specific salary.

    Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

    Find out more about what it’s like working at the Department for Transport.

    https://careers.dft.gov.uk/our-agencies/department-for-transport-central/

Things You Need to Know

Selection Process

  • This role uses the Success Profiles framework.

  • You will need to complete a CV and Personal Statement (max 1000 words), addressing:

    • Degree in Science or Environmental Science, and/or relevant professional experience

    • Knowledge and assessment experience of low carbon fuels

    • Experience of initiating and managing technical projects

    • Communication of complex information

    • Evidence-based decision making

  • Sift: Week commencing 19th May 2025

  • Interviews: Week commencing 2nd June 2025

  • Interview will include:

Reasonable Adjustments

We are a Disability Confident Leader. If you need assistance during the recruitment process, please complete the “Assistance required” section on your application form or email:
dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Document Accessibility

If attachments are not accessible, please email:
DRGComms@dft.gov.uk

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information 

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and Further Information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact Point for Applicants

Further Complaints Process

If you feel your application was not handled according to the Recruitment Principles, contact:

dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If unsatisfied, escalate to the Civil Service Commission here

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